Growing abroad

There is no doubt that CATEC has become one of the most advanced technological centres in Spain and a reference in R&D in Europe, especially in areas such as drones and unmanned systems, robotics and industry 4.0, additive manufacturing (3D printing) or non-destructive inspection, which are already marking the present and future of the aerospace industry and other important productive sectors. And not because we say it, but the results that we have achieved throughout our 11 years of history and professional trajectory talk by themselves.

We announced some days ago a new milestone in the history of FADA-CATEC, and especially in our internationalization and growth process towards foreign markets. This is no other than the first project in the field of technological developments in 3D printing outside the European continent, thanks to the collaboration with the company INVAP Argentina, which means our leap crossing the ocean to Latin America, precisely in an area of great value such as components and parts manufacturing for satellites and launchers for the space sector.

In a year in which precisely the city of Seville is assuming and leading the presidency of the Community of Ariane Cities (CVA), and Andalusia is boosting its growth in the aeronautical sector reached in the last decade, we are convinced that this new CATEC project will contribute to show the high technological and industrial capacity that our industry has and to continue encouraging our companies to keep on on this good path, betting on R&D and high added value activities.

The latest figures for the year 2017 are again clear and consolidate Andalusia as a region that has not stopped growing in turnover, employment and exports in the aerospace sector, and that already faces the future with new challenges and illusions. The new strategic plan of the sector must be a key element in all this, and the base for the Andalusian aerospace sector to continue growing abroad, with the support of all the agents involved and with the R&D and the promotion of innovation as main allies. Only this way will strengthen our position as a of the fastest growing industries in the European and international level, and with better prospects for the coming years.

Joaquín Rodríguez Grau
Director of CATEC

Editorial

Service vocation to SMEs

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The main purpose of FADA-CATEC, which directs our course and the reason of the creation of our entity, is promoting and developing the creation of knowledge and new technologies and transfer it to the aerospace industrial structure, boosting R&D as a key element in the development of our sector and also contributes to improving the competitiveness of our companies.

In addition, there is another important aspect, the service vocation and the support to small and medium-sized enterprises. This enterprises constitute the hundred percent of aeronautic auxiliary industry in Andalusia and more than 90% in the whole community sector. This percentage also could be extrapolated to the aeronautic and spatial industry in Spain and it shows the good position of this sector, its experience and specialization in different areas, but with companies which need more muscle and size to compete internationally with the advent of new business opportunities.

Also in the case of R&D, because it is necessary a biggest investment in this field, both in public sphere (which it has done significantly in recent years) and private sphere, to situate our aerospace industry in the leading position. For this reason in FADA-CATED we have always been clear in our major aim which is to promote this culture of innovation in business. We offer innovative and pioneering services and technologies, in many cases, for the companies, which otherwise it could be impossible to access. It helps them with the process of continue improvement, betting on knowledge and developing of technology as the bases for it develop and growth.

In this way we will continuous working and moving forwards all the professionals and people who are a member of FADA-CATEC. We are aware of our successes, as the participation of companies in R&D projects and technology pools, but there is some way to go. As was evident in the recent meeting about the programmes CIEN and Innterconecta, organizated by our Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI), we should not miss the opportunity and we should continuous promoting the presence of our aeronautic SMEs in projects and R&D initiatives. Only thus we will continue implementing this culture of innovation and technological development in our industry, especially, in auxiliary companies. It can make us an aeronautic international referent in major technological areas with more projection in recent years. Thus, for any initiative or consultation relative to R&D, all the professionals of FADA-CATEC are at the disposal of the companies in the sector.